Punx of Colour take on Glasgow at Decolonise Fest

Glasgow is welcoming Decolonise Fest (DF) this Saturday 11 November at Mono for the first time, with a stellar lineup of three Glasgow-based performers: Kapil Seshasayee, R.AGGS and Trishaaa. 

Words by Samar Jamal | Photos by Sean Patrick Campbell, R.AGGS and Trishaaa

Decolonisation aims to undo the impacts of colonialism by addressing its political, cultural, and economic legacies. The festival is a DIY and volunteer-led, platforming Punx of Colour in hopes of challenging the music scene and connecting ‘Punx of Colour to global struggles against the legacy of colonialism, and indulge in our love of punk together.’ 

I sat down with one of the organisers and performers at this year's festival, Kapil Seshasayee, to discuss the festival's importance and Glasgow's music scene. 

I first heard Kapil’s music when he performed at the Glasgow Jazz Festival at Glad Cafe. His sound is striking and unapologetic, touching on themes of caste and colonialism, so there is no surprise that he is one of the minds behind DF. 

“For a long time, I was under the impression that the messaging in my music (I make protest songs against nationalism, censorship of minority voices and the horrors of social ills like the Indian caste system) had no relevance here. But seeing more and more PoC [person of colour] centred events has given me new confidence that there was perhaps an audience all along – I just needed the right platform to reach them. While the majority of spaces are often difficult to navigate for those not in the majority, Decolonise Fest is making a real difference,” Kapil explains. 

There is still a lack of diversity in Glasgow’s music scene and artists of colour are not headlining big gigs at the same rate as white artists. Alongside this, inclusivity is sometimes seen as just another trend adopted by companies, highlighting the need for spaces like Decolonise Fest; spaces that offer a sincere platform to underrepresented artists without tokenizing them.

In Edinburgh, initiatives like Amplify are highlighting the need for change. Journalist Arusa Qureshi, and author of Flip the Script – a book about women in UK hop hop, ran a six-month research project to amplify the voices of underrepresented Scottish artists and curated weekly playlists of new tracks by artists of colour.

Similarly in the Southside, some platforms are fostering the talents of underrepresented artists, such as Radio Buena Vida here in Govanhill: “I'm a big fan of Radio Buena Vida,” says Kapil. “And they were one of the first places I suggested handing out flyers and posters for the upcoming festival in Glasgow. I've been lucky enough to curate guest mixes for them in the past to promote prior shows and their audience seem really receptive to the goals of this event.” 

Kapil grew up in Clydebank but moved to the Southside post-pandemic. Since the move, he’s gained a newfound confidence in what Glasgow’s music scene is capable of: “I'm a fan of collectives like GLITCH41 who often curate guest artists of colour at their events at iconic venue, The Rum Shack in the Southside. It tends to focus on the jazzier end of the genre spectrum but I highly recommend their events to everyone after a great night out.” 

He understands that change won't happen all of a sudden though – it’s a slow process: “It won't happen overnight but it's about unpacking our biases. I once had a white patron at a festival tell me that they'd seen my name on posters many times before but hadn't thought they would enjoy the style of music I make as much as they did. 

“This person was essentially letting slip that the ethnic nature of my name was enough to put them off my music — these are the attitudes we need to be addressing if progression for artists of colour is to be possible.”

He encourages music lovers to take a chance on new artists, it’s the best way to alter the scene and listeners are also able to expand their music taste: “Take a chance on artists you've not heard yet! Often ticket sales hinge upon someone already being a fan of an artist but I think there's a lot to be said for just following your curiosity and booking a ticket to something you might not already know. You might even find your new favourite artist that way!” 

To book tickets for the Decolonise Fest, click here.